Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(9)
The lead soldier nodded. “You did the right thing.”
“No shit.” Nick stepped over one of the still-unconscious men just as the lead soldier bent down and hauled Bear up and over his shoulder with a pained grunt. “What the hell are you doing?”
“He’s coming, too.”
Big mistake. “You can’t kidnap the head of the Grizzly nation without starting a war with all the shifters.” What the hell was wrong with this guy? Nick eyed Lucas, who was bleeding on the floor. He’d heal from the injuries but not soon enough to lend assistance to his leader. “Put Bear down.”
“No. His people are scouting the outer territories, and mine the inner. I can have him in the helicopter before they even know he’s gone.”
“And? The war?” Nick asked.
The soldier turned, his knees bending under Bear’s weight. “He was going to attack us, so he started the skirmish. His connection to Simone is unknown, and my instincts tell me it’s important. So he comes to Ireland.”
Nick pressed his lips shut. They’d have to take the helicopter to the airport, and by then, perhaps both Bear and Simone would be conscious. It might be easier to wage a battle away from headquarters and before embarking on a plane. “Your funeral, *.” He moved past the soldier, keeping Simone tucked against his chest and hoping to hell he didn’t pass out while holding her.
Even in his damaged state, the woman felt right in his arms. Her spicy scent of wild roses filtered up, and something deep inside him, in a place he usually ignored, settled. Yeah. Only Simone could do that. He had wondered whether he’d ever experience the feeling again, or whether he’d recognize it if he did.
One step in front of the other. One more. He kept his gait steady, even while blue dots jerked across his vision. Blue? Why would dots be blue?
Fire still burned in his chest, and his ears might as well be stuffed with cotton.
His boots must be touching the concrete, although he could barely feel his legs. The combined plasma hits had messed with his entire system, and he needed to rest and heal. So did Simone and Bear, for that matter. Gravel crunched, and the sun shone weakly down, shining off the black SUV.
A dented compact slid into view and quickly stopped. A woman with streaks of purple in her hair jumped out, her eyes a furious blue. “What’s going on here?” she yelled, retrieving a knife from her back pocket.
“Private matter,” a shorter soldier said, reaching her in seconds.
Nick opened his mouth, but his voice had disappeared. The human female was probably just a friend to the Grizzly Motorcycle Club, which explained how she’d gotten by the shifters guarding the perimeter. “Leave,” he whispered.
She shoved the soldier away and ran over to Simone. “Simone? What’s wrong with her?” The knife glinted in the sun as she lifted it, concern and fear wafting from her. “What did you do?”
Nick edged to the side to protect Simone from the knife, just in case. “Wasn’t me. Who are you?”
The woman glanced at the men rapidly surrounding her, at Bear slung over the lead soldier’s shoulder, and then up at Nick. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but you’re not taking Simone.” The woman reached for a phone from her pocket, keeping the knife level and ready to strike. “I’m Tori Monzelle. My sister is Lexi Monzelle with the Seattle Police Department, and I’m calling her.”
Nick shouted a warning, but the shorter soldier had already grabbed the nerve point in the female’s neck and pressed. She spun around with impressive speed, her knife flashing out and catching the witch across the arm.
He bellowed and jumped to the side, dodging in and grabbing her nerve cluster again, this time hard. Her eyelids fluttered shut, and she dropped. The soldier caught her easily, ignoring his bleeding arm. “Shall I leave her inside?”
The lead soldier grunted, trying to shove Bear up his shoulder. “Sister to Lexi Monzelle? Isn’t that the Enforcer’s mate? Kellach Dunne’s mate?”
Damn it. So that’s who the human female was. Nick had heard she was dating Lucas Bryant, which explained her presence at headquarters. His vision went black, so he held perfectly still. “Yes, and I doubt you also want to kidnap a human. Especially one with ties to not only the Seattle Police Department but to the Enforcers. She’s dating Bryant, so leave her here with him. You know. The bear shifter you left bleeding out on the floor inside.”
The soldier smiled, sweat dripping down his face. “She comes with us until we figure this all out.”
Nick shook his head. “You’re f*cking crazy.” Or arrogant. Witches rarely gave a shit about the laws of other species, and this guy certainly proved the rule. “Sometimes I forget how much I dislike you f*ckin’ witches,” he muttered. A soldier opened a door to the SUV, and he hitched forward. He slid into the backseat, and Simone didn’t even stir. He quickly removed her restraints and settled her safely against his chest.
She was one witch he didn’t hate, although she’d pretty much wanted to rip his heart out and feed it to the hogs. Not that he could blame her. Not really.
The soldier chucked a still-bleeding Bear into the back of the SUV, and the entire vehicle shuddered in protest. The unconscious female was placed next to Nick, her head slumping against his shoulder.
He must have blacked out during the drive, because he suddenly realized they’d arrived at the private section of the airport. His growl when a soldier tried to take Simone from him had the guy backing away, hand inching toward a weapon. Grunting, Nick stretched from the vehicle and hefted the still-silent witch across the tarmac and up the steps of a private Jetstream, while a soldier carried Tori Monzelle.